School ‘suspended girl for saying a teacher assaulted her’

Prairie Middle School social studies teacher Brian Vasquez was arrested in August 2017 and charged with 31 counts of sex assault after being accused of sending nude photos and physically abusing students over several years

Three middle school administrators in Colorado are now facing charges for allegedly ignoring a student’s claims that a teacher sexually assaulted her.

Prairie Middle School social studies teacher Brian Vasquez was arrested in August 2017 and charged with 31 counts of sex assault after being accused of sending nude photos and physically abusing students over several years, according ABC 13.

The arrest and subsequent indictment revealed that when a 14-year-old student in 2013 told the school’s Principal David Gonzales and Assistant Principal AJ MacIntosh that Vasquez had assaulted her they ignored her and then suspended her from school for several days.

The victim’s name hasn’t been released due to the age the student was when she was allegedly assaulted.

According to the indictment, handed down on Wednesday, Vasquez heard that the student was saying he sexually assaulted her, so he asked for a private meeting.

In the meeting he allegedly discussed the ‘devastating effects her disclosure would have on his career and family.’

When the student then met with MacIntosh and Gonzales, they repeated that sentiment and urged her to ‘recant her disclosure of sexual abuse by Vasquez.’

The arrest and subsequent indictment revealed that when a 14-year-old student in 2013 told the school’s Principal David Gonzales (left) and Assistant Principal AJ MacIntosh (right) that Vasquez had assaulted her they ignored her and then suspended her from school for several days

In the meeting and after being pressured from all sides, the victim eventually said she’d made the allegations up – and was suspended from school for several days. After he was arrested in August Vasquez eventually admitted to the sexual assault, telling police that the girl’s story was true

In the meeting and after being pressured from all sides, the victim eventually said she’d made the allegations up – and was suspended from school for several days.

After he was arrested in August Vasquez eventually admitted to the sexual assault, telling police that the girl’s story was true.

He told police he ‘understood the relationships were illegal and he was waiting for the time when they were all revealed,’ according to the indictment.

Cheryl Somers-Wegienka, a former counselor at the school, was also allegedly involved in the victim’s suspension

MacIntosh said in testimony to the grand jury that while she knows what the school district’s policy is on reporting allegations of sexual abuse, she wanted to conduct her own investigation first.

She said she thought it was her her’ individual responsibility to conduct her own personal investigations of allegations of impropriety on any type on the part of school staff, before complying with her obligations under the law.’

MacIntosh also said she remembered the victim but not her claims of sexual abuse, according to the indictment.

She said she did not remember suspending the student, despite her signature on official school documentation confirming the suspension.

Gonzales also claims he had no memory of sexual abuse allegations being brought against Vasquez.

The pair have been placed on administrative leave from the school pending the investigation into their actions, the Cherry Creek School District told ABC 13.

The school sent out a notification to parents about their leave and the indictment on Wednesday.

Cheryl Somers-Wegienka, a former counselor at the school, was also allegedly involved in the victim’s suspension.

Somers-Wegienka, MacIntosh and Gonzales all face misdemeanor charges of failing to report child abuse or neglect. They will appear in court for the first time later this month.